Rights Groups Condemn Egypt’s Widening Crackdown on Journalists

October 23, 2024 – Egypt –

A coalition of 34 international and regional rights organizations has condemned Egypt’s latest wave of journalist arrests, calling for the immediate release of those detained and an end to the state’s ongoing repression of press freedom. In early September 2024, at least four independent Egyptian journalists—Ashraf Omar, Khaled Mamdouh, Ramadan Gouida, and Yasser Abu Al‑Ela—were arrested in a coordinated campaign that rights groups say constitutes enforced disappearance.

The arrests, carried out without warrants or public charges, have reignited fears of a resurgence in Egypt’s crackdown on the independent press. Many of the journalists’ families were left without information about their whereabouts for days. These detentions follow a pattern in which reporters are charged with vague offenses such as “spreading false news” or “belonging to a terrorist group,” and are often held in prolonged pretrial detention beyond the two-year legal limit.

According to the joint statement led by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and endorsed by organizations including ARTICLE 19, PEN America, IFEX, and EuroMed Rights, Egypt continues to rank among the world’s top jailers of journalists. More than 11 media professionals remain imprisoned in the country, and dozens of independent news sites remain blocked. The government’s repression also extends beyond its borders: exiled Egyptian journalists have reported harassment, surveillance, and threats against their families still in Egypt.

The statement urges Egyptian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all journalists detained for their reporting, end the use of enforced disappearance and torture, and cease legal and digital attacks against the press. It also calls for unblocking access to independent media platforms and ending transnational repression tactics against journalists abroad.

Despite constitutional guarantees for press freedom, the Egyptian government has continued to violate international human rights obligations by silencing dissent and criminalizing journalism. The ongoing arrests represent not isolated incidents but part of a systemic campaign to crush independent voices and intimidate those who report on corruption, human rights, or political opposition. Rights groups warn that without accountability and reform, Egypt’s press freedom environment will continue to deteriorate, threatening the very foundations of democratic discourse.

Reference – 

https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Joint-Statement-on-Egypt-9_9_2024-2.pdf

https://euromedrights.org/publication/rights-organizations-condemn-spate-of-egyptian-journalist-arrests-demand-immediate-release-accountability/